As we approach the deadline for an agreement to be reached between the two sides responsible for this potential lock out, all hockey fans can do is hold their breath.

While waiting, fans can pass the time with banter and hypotheticals about a season that may not even happen. However, it is the job of fans and media to field these 'what ifs' in a haze of doubt surrounding the season.

That leaves us with what the discussion is for today. Will John Tavares ever get the 'Sidney Crosby' treatment by NHL referees?

Here's the scene: It’s game four of the Eastern Conference Semifinals between the Philadelphia Flyers and the New Jersey Devils. The Devils have frustrated the Flyers for two and a half games now, stifling the high flying attack that dismissed the favored Penguins in six games.

With a light load of free agent talent, it is no shock that a player who encompasses all of the descriptions above still remains unsigned. Alexander Semin is easily the most intriguing free agent of the entire 2012 free agent class. In 469 regular season games Semin has acquired 408 total points (197 goals and 211 assists). In comparison Zach Parise, now of the Minnesota Wild, has 410 points in 502 reg...

Monday, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Shelly Anderson confirmed that the Pittsburgh Penguins had extended an official contract offer to free agent forward Shane Doan, though the terms of the proposed deal were not disclosed.

With almost $10 million in available cap space and a nicely-defined hole on their top-line wing, the Penguins have space both on the books and on the roster to acquire the 35-year-old winger's services.

A veteran of 1198 NHL games, Doan's 788 career points and 1071 PIM would be a welcome addition to the top line. Having lost Steve Sullivan to free agency and after the Jordan Staal trade, the Penguins' top-six forwards group becom...

Sidney Crosby’s contract extension seems to have gotten lost in the Zach Parise and Ryan Suter free agency hoopla. Not to mention the loss of center Jordan Staal to the Carolina Hurricanes overshadowing the gargantuan deal.

Twelve years. $104.4 million. $8.7 million per year.

The kid didn’t even get a raise. Oh, the superstitions of the magical number 87.

The contract’s cap hit, really, was the main reason the Pens could be all in on the Parise sweepstakes. It hurt missing out on him – almost as much as it hurt being spurned by Marian Hossa in 2008…almost – but there’s a bigger picture, here.

The Pittsburgh Penguins signed Sidney Crosby to a sweetheart extension this June, but after missing out on Zach Parise, it appears he'll begin the 2012-13 without the scoring winger Pittsburgh has long coveted.

Whether they get that player this summer or not, the franchise center will spend the next 12 years in Pittsburgh at just $8.7 million per season, shaving off roughly a third of what he could have earned in a spend-happy free agent market.

With the cap space he left on the table, the expectation has become that the Penguins will reward his loyalty with his own version of James Neal.

Given Crosby's (relative) sacrifice, they should. When the time is right, t...

On free agency day one, the Pittsburgh Penguins attempted to woo a few key additions, but as they decided to make everyone wait, Pittsburgh made a few strong depth moves.

Already acquiring strong two way forward Brandon Sutter via trade, Pittsburgh wanted to boost its toughness level. After being beaten in all facets of the game in their opening round playoff series, the Penguins wanted to make sure that they were no longer going to be push over’s. Enter in Tanner Glass.

The UFA forward Glass spent last season with the Winnipeg Jets. The 28 year old winger posted 246 hits and 51 blocked shots last season while averaging 1:46 shorthanded. His physical pr...

With the recent huge contracts signed by Sidney Crosby and Jonathan Quick, some pundits have started to speculate. They wonder whether or not this is good for any player, even if that player helped his team to a Stanley Cup and has a room full of hardware.

Most fans would like to think that their favorite team's coach, general manager, and owner are thinking long term and looking for consistency throughout the organization.

On the surface, these contracts show a couple of things. First and most obviously, it shows the club is looking to lock up one of their most valuable assets.

Secondly, it shows the player is committed to staying with the organization and become on...